SPARX Self-Help Computer Programme
SPARX is a self-help computer programme for young people with symptoms of depression. The programme has been funded by the Ministry of Health and developed by a University of Auckland team which specialises in treating adolescent depression. Check out the award winning game here http://www.sparx.org.nz/
Children’s Visual Communications Dictionary
This is a wonderful tri-lingual picture dictionary. This is one of the first dictionaries that represent the three official languages of Aotearoa. The organisation behind this dictionary is Voice Thru Your Hands. Their vision is that every child, whether they are deaf, have a hearing impairment, or are non-verbal, are given the chance to have a voice.
The Dictionary is available here http://www.voicethruyourhands.org.nz/information/visual-communication-resources-i-11.html
Is Resilience Still a Useful Concept with Working with Children and Young People
Youth workers, health practitioners and others working in the youth sector will be interested in a paper just published by the Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) information exchange on the topic of resilience and its meanings when applied to young people. To read the article, visit this link http://arataiohi.fuzion.co.nz/sites/arataiohi.fuzion.co.nz/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2255&qid=149875
A recent report on the suicide prevention action plan, developments in youth forensic services, and working together to keep children safe are all topics covered in the latest update from the Health and Disability NGO Email Update.
All updates are available http://www.ngo.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexcm/ngo-news-updates?Open&m_id=2.1.
Or to subscribe to regular email updates email ngo@moh.govt.nz
Youth Mental Health Package Unveiled by Prime Minster: Last week the Prime Minister unveiled a $62 million package of initiatives focusing on youth mental health. The package details how Government will improve services for young people with, or at risk of, mild to moderate mental health problems. The initiatives will be of interest to many people and organisations working in the community sector who deal with the consequences of unmet mental health needs, which can involve families, schools and communities as well as the young people themselves. The initiatives will include a focus on making primary health care more youth friendly with interim support for Youth One Stop Shops. The finer details are still in development and the Ministries are consulting with key people in the sector. The initiative also increases the number of youth workers in low decile schools.
Youth workers will be placed in schools in South Auckland, Porirua and Flaxmere that don’t already have Multi Agency Support Services in Secondary Schools. Youth workers will be employed by Child, Youth and Family preferred providers who will be required to go through a tendering and contracting process. There will be 9 new youth workers in 2012/13 and 10 more in 2013/14. Youth workers will be required to have a level 6 qualification.
Full fact sheet information is available here:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-School_Based_Initiatives.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Health_Sector.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Family_and_Community.pdf
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Youth_Mental_Health_project-Online_initiatives.pdf
Whanau Ora: A Strengths Based Approach to Youth Mental Health: The Minister for Whānau Ora, Tariana Turia, has welcomed the recognition that Whānau Ora is intimately linked to the drive to improve youth mental health. “Whānau Ora, at its heart, is about whānau, aiga or families coming together to support each other through building shared aspirations, and working together to achieve those aspirations,” said Mrs Turia. Read the media release http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/wh%C4%81nau-ora-strengths-based-approach-youth-mental-health
Youth Smoking Hits Record Low: ASH Smoking Survey shows a record drop in youth smoking – especially among Maori girls. The overall rate of youth smoking has dropped one-and-a-half percent to 4.1% (from 5.5% in 2010), the largest drop in almost a decade. Read the full report here: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/youth-smoking-hits-record-low
Public Sector Targets: The Government has announced a set of 10 new targets for the public sector over the next three to five years. These have implications for children, young people, and people working with them. For more information see http://beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/The_Prime_Minister%27s_results_for_New_Zealanders.pdf
Health of Maori Children and Young People with Chronic Conditions and Disabilities: The report provides an overview of secondary health service utilisation patterns for Māori children and young people with chronic conditions and disabilities. To read the report see http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/health-maori-children-and-young-people-chronic-conditions-and-disabilities
Families Commission – Teen Pregnancy – New Report: A recent report on teen pregnancy in New Zealand makes recommendations aimed at providing more support, choice and opportunity for young parents. To download and view the report go http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/research/parenting/teenage-pregnancy-and-parenting
Payment Rate Increases: From 1 April 2012 there will be a 1.77% increase to: rates and thresholds for main benefits, Student Allowances, Student Loan Living Costs and the Foster Care Allowance, rates and thresholds for some supplementary assistance, thresholds for the Community Services Card. A 2.65% increase will apply to rates of New Zealand Superannuation. Read more here http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/media-releases/2012/payment-changes-for-april-2012.html
Child Protection: Everybody’s Business
What are your responsibilities with the new amendments to the crimes act?
SASI: South Auckland Special Interest group for Mental Health.
Guests Speakers
Karyn Healey Child Protection Coordinator
Julie Carroll, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Places are limited. Reserve your place now
Contact: Lisa Cartledge at cartlel@middlemore.co.nz, phone 0212416219
SASI also recommend the following site as a useful resource http://www.familyservices.govt.nz/directory. It is a directory of services acrossNew Zealand and can be location specific. “The Family Services Directory is a searchable online database. It lists information about family support organisations and the services/programmes they offer to supportNew Zealand families (we call the organisations in the Family Services Directory “providers”). The purpose of the Family Services Directory is to connect people with providers who can help them to cope with common issues and problems.”
Age Concern New Zealand: Media Release: 15 May 2012:
New figures show older people significant portion of society
Age Concern New Zealand says new figures show the significant portion of society older people make up.
The figures, released yesterday by Statistics New Zealand, show those over 80 are the fastest growing age-group with the age group growing at about four times the rate of 20 years ago.
There are presently more than 160,000 New Zealanders aged over 80 but Statistics New Zealand estimates this number could reach half a million by 2050.
Age Concern New Zealand Chief Executive Ann Martin says this is great news for our country.
“People living longer, healthier lives has to be a positive.
“Older people are some of our most active volunteers, as well as an invaluable source of wisdom.
“It also means more older people will be able to stay in their own homes for longer and to care for those less able.”
However, Age Concern believes planning by all sectors of society will be required to meet a range of service demands.
“For Age Concern, it means we need to plan to be able to respond to the current and future needs and demand for our services.
An older population means more people who are isolated and lonely which will require visiting services such as Age Concern Accredited Visiting Services.
“There are also likely to be more people of this 80 year old age group being abused and requiring our prevention and intervention services,” she says.
Age Concern is calling for more government research, policy and planning on matters concerning older people.
“There doesn’t appear to be a lot of positive focus on seniors right now.
“Many people over 80 have complex needs but want to remain in their own homes with support. Government is aware of this and needs to make home-based care a priority.
“Those who can’t remain at home will need good residential care and for people needing acute treatment they will continue to need access to hospital beds and good primary health.”
Martin says these statistics also mean there is likely to be more older people surviving solely on the NZS only, which is difficult with rising costs.
“It would be wise for all of us who are not yet 80 to give some thought to how we wish to spend the latter year of our lives and to begin planning for this. Develop social networks and find out about local support services.”
ENDS
Media contact: Lucy Johnston, Communications & Marketing Manager, Age Concern New Zealand – ph 04 801 9338
You are invited to the Auckland launch of Mai Chen’s book, The Public Law Toolbox. Mai is the Business School’s Adjunct Professor in Commercial and Public Law and will be talking about how The Public Law Toolbox makes business more successful with government (and profitable).
The Public Law Toolbox helps to “level the playing field for businesses dealing with government and makes them more successful, ultimately benefiting the bottom line”. With more than 25 years’ experience in public law, Mai has created what will be an indispensable resource for business people, lawyers, advocates, industry associations, citizens, Maori and non-governmental organisations to more successfully interface with government.
Often working with government can be a daunting process but Mai has created an entire “toolbox” of public law mechanisms that sit alongside traditional commercial law remedies, which can help businesses successfully resolve government, regulatory or policy and law reform issues.
The Public Law Toolbox will assist those wanting to influence policy and law reform issues for business by describing the tools available for them to make the most of these avenues. It will also help those wanting to resolve disputes around administrative and government decision-making, and advise businesses on how to use the toolbox to resolve disputes with competitors. The book sets out the government’s unique legal, transparency and accountability obligations and the risks that they face, taking political and public opinion factors into account, when interfacing with business.
“The book provides formidable evidence of the depth of Mai’s knowledge and experience and the examples cited are relevant and topical. I believe it is not only a ‘must read’ for business people in New Zealand but it is also a ‘must keep’ in that it is unmatched as an ongoing reference tool on the subject.” Joan Withers, Chair Auckland International Airport Ltd, Chair Mighty River Power Ltd, Deputy Chair TVNZ Ltd, Director The Treasury Advisory Board
“An appropriately named book and ‘must have’ for directors and CEO’s to increase their understanding of the dynamics of Government. The book is diverse and all encompassing. An easy read, and a great reference tool as well, that establishes the history and framework of decision making, and offers a set of directions for all to traverse the Government maze.” Janine Smith, Chair of AsureQuality and Cerno NZ Limited, Director of Warehouse Group and Steel and Tube Limited, Principal The Boardroom Practice Limited
2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon and has given rise to the phrase “dragon baby” for families expecting a new arrival.
The dragon is the mightiest zodiac sign in Chinese astrology, and is associated with traits such as success, ambition and independence. Many mothers consider this to be a particularly auspicious year to give birth.
In recognition of this, The Mental-Health Foundation of NZ have made a special Dragon Baby section, where they offer Chinese language information for new and expectant mothers.
Resources on offer
National Screening Unit resources in other languages
When your baby can’t stop crying – Canadian resource, phone numbers are outside of New Zealand
Unicef breastfeeding and bottle feeding advice
Kids Health, Australia – health fact sheets
Kidscount – Australian website with information that can help you to raise happy and confident children
http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/kaixinxingdong/page/478-resources+dragon-baby-resources
This week, to attain, maintain, or regain my sense of wellbeing...
...I will practice engaging with my thoughts and how they are affecting my mood by practicing thought-catching. Being able to catch my thoughts and follow their connection to my moods is a key step towards being able to reason myself out of stress and distress when I need to. Taking a moment to be aware of the core components of my experience will help me be able to respond with awareness.
This week, whenever I notice a slight drop in my mood, I will take a moment to ask myself (A) what just happened, (B) what it meant to me or what I might have been telling myself about that and (C) what it did to my mood. It is not easy to notice our own thoughts, which is why I will start out by trying to catch thoughts associated with minor changes in mood. Once I'm comfortable with that, I will move on to using thought-catching as an engagement strategy in times of stress and distress.
It is often helpful at first to use a pen and paper to note these things down in three columns.
(A) Activating event: What just happened?
(B) Thoughts / Self Talk: What might I have told myself about that? What did it mean to or for me?
(C) Mood Change: What happened to my mood?
In this way, I will start to build up a picture of the kinds of thoughts that make my moods swing, and the kinds of situations that trigger those thoughts. This will prepare me to be able to recognise and catch those thoughts later when they are fueling my distress - and perhaps detach from those thoughts a bit, adopting the position of observer and getting a bit of perspective on them.
Once I have gotten good at making myself aware of what my thoughts are, I will add thought-catching to my Personal Coping Kete. In times of stress and distress, I will be able to practice catching my thoughts and observing to myself what triggered them and how the thoughts made me feel. By engaging with my thoughts and emotions before I respond, I will be better prepared to soothe, express, distract myself from or get support with them.
